Locomotive head-light



(Modem I 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1.

J. M. KELLY.

LOGOMOTIVE HEAD LIGHT.

N0. 250,260.- Patented Nov. 29,1881.

WI JE SEES 7f T 'W (ModeL) 2 Sheets8heet 2.

J. M. KELLY.

LOGOMOTIVB HEAD LIGHT.

Patented Nov-. 29, 1881.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCE.

J. MILLER KELLY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

LOCOMOTIVE HEAD-LIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,260, dated November 29, 1881.

Application filed September 22, 1881. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J. MILLER KELLY, of Rochester, Monroe county, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Locomotive Head-Lights, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improved means of displaying cautionary or other signals on locomotive head-lights; and it consists in illuminating a transparency placed at the sides from the marginal rays of light proceeding from the reflector by means of a reflecting-chamber arranged inside the case and adapted to receive and transmittheligh t, as hereinafter more fully described.

Transparencies or signal plates have been heretofore inserted in the sides of locomotive head-lights, being placed opposite openings in the reflector, through which the light to illuminate the signals passed but this construction is subject to the material difliculty that it injures the reflector. Signals have also been somewhat insufficiently illuminated from the light which escapes from the chimney-aperture in the reflector.

My improvement is designed to furnish a brilliant illumination to the signals from the exterior or marginal rays proceeding from the reflector, which portion of the light is ordinarily lost as head-lights are usuallyconstructed.

My improvements in head-lights are represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- 1 Figure l is afront view of alocomotive headlight containing r'ny improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line as as, Fig. 1, one side being shown in section through the reflector and light-reflecting chamber, while the opposite side represents a top-plan view of these parts. Fig.4: is a perspective view of the door forming one side of the head-light with my reflecting-chamber applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, looking downward into the upper part of the head-light, the top of the body being removed to expose the internal parts to View.

The exterior case or body of my improved head-light is of the usual construction and form. It is provided at the front with a circular projecting flange, I), to which a glass plate is fitted.

The reflector (J, oil-fount F, and burner E are also of the usual pattern. The reflector O is preferably placed farther back from the front of the case than is customary, so that the interior portion of the front of the case may receive a stronger illumination than usual from the marginal rays of light which escape from the front of the reflector. One side of the case is formed, as usual, by a door, G, hinged thereto, and through which access is gained to the interior of the lamp. Into openings in the door G, and in the opposite side of the case near the top, are inserted the glass plates or transparencies L L, on which any desired figures or other characters may be painted. or otherwise applied. The two transparencies stand, it will be observed, at opposite sides of the central reflector C, so that without special provision they would receive but faint illumination from the burner. reflecting the rays of light through the transparencies, lightreflecting chambers H H are applied to the inner sides of the case over and around the transparencies. These chambers are closed except at the forward ends, where they are left open at the front edge of the reflector O, to receive rays of light reflected backward from the interior of the case. The chambers are made of sheet metal, and in order that they may receive the greatest possible amount of light they are extended upward and inward at their forward ends over the front edge of the reflector, as indicated at 0 0, their lower sides being also extended downward closely around the edge of the reflector, as indicated at i, the object being to give the forward ends of the chambers the greatest size admissible without enlarging the lamp, in order that a great amount oflight may be thrown outward through the transparencies. The in ner reflecting-surfaces are all brightened or painted white, so as to'reflect and transmit as much light as possible. The rays of light escapin g from the margin of the main reflector O illuminate theinterior of the case at its front, and are reflected thence backward, as shown, into the chambers H H, from the surface of which they are reflected outward through the transparencies.

For the purpose of The essential feature of the invention consists in the application of reflecting chambers or surfaces in such manner as to direct the marginal raysfrom the front of the lamp backward and outward through transparencies located in the case or body. The precise form of the reflecting-chambers and the form and location of the transparencies are not material. They may be modified to any extent desired, provided the arrangement and mode of action above indicated are not departed from.

As a convenient mode of construction to permit the ready opening the door, the reflecting-chamber in the door side of the case is made in two parts, the rear part being secured firmly to the door, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, while the forward portion, 0, is secured to the front of the case. The flange D at the front of the case is preferably made straight, as indicated in Fig. 2; but itmay be made tapering, as represented in Fig. 3, the construction of this flange forming no part of the invention.

It is obvious that, if desired, the reflectingchambers H H may be extended backward to the rear side of the case and transparent signals introduced into the rear side of the ease, to be illuminated by light from the chambers. The signal may also be placed in any other position in relation to thelight-reflectin g chambers.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a locomotive head-light, the combination of a main reflector, a transparency inserted in the side of the casing, and light-reflecting surfaces arranged, substantially as shown, to direct the marginal rays from the main reflector backward and outward through the transparency.

2. The combination of the casing, reflector O, transparency L, and chamber H, open at the forward end only.

3. In combination with the casing, reflector, and transparency in the side of the casing, thechamberH, havingits forward end extended inward around the reflector, as shown at o.

4. In combination with the casing, the reflector, and the door, theligh t-conductingchamber consisting of the two parts, one attached to the door and the other attached to the casing, as shown and described.

5. In a head-light, a light-reflecting chamber extending from the margin of the main reflector backward, in combination with a signal located within said chamber, substantially as described and shown.

6. In a head-light, the combination of the main reflector, a signal located outside and behind the front of the reflector, and a light-conducting chamber covering the signal, and extending thence forward, with its forward end open to receive the light-rays escaping at the margin of the main reflector.

' J. MILLER KELLY. Witnesses:

GEO. B. SELDEN, H. G. PHILLIPS. 

